Times - They Are Changing

Times – They Are Changing

As time goes along things change.  Sometimes for the better and sometimes not.  When we talk about things being different than they formerly were, I like to differentiate between change and progress.  Change just means not the same as it was and progress means it’s changed for the better.  As usual I’ll let you decide which is appropriate.

Over the years it’s been my pleasure to judge the CC of A National on three occasions and my good fortune to go Best of Breed twice.  On all five of these occasions it was a one day show with judging going on for dogs and bitches at the same time.  You tried to stagger your entries so you didn’t get caught with two in different rings at once.  In early shows we had futurities where you nominated a bitch’s litter before the pups were whelped.  This was eventually replaced with sweepstakes and now we have puppy class awards.

The point of futurities was to have enough faith in your skill as a breeder to put your money where your mouth was.  It was similar to horses where they nominate for the Kentucky Derby, Breeder’s Cup, etc.  The sweepstakes was something where you could enter any puppy without pre-nomination and gave people a chance to evaluate their pups until entries closed.  Both systems had their supporters.

The National has now grown to a week long event if you want to take in the whole thing.  In addition to the conformation classes and obedience, we now have herding, agility, and a variety of activities with something for almost everyone.  The size of the entries have grown to the point where it takes multiple days to judge and the social aspect has exploded.  In addition to the annual meeting and dinner, we have the Quarter Century Group the Collie Health Foundation, The top Twenty Competition and breeders, judges, and/or grooming seminars.

The CC of A at one time hosted yearly seminars with speakers from allover the country.  Held in the summer when most dogs were out of coat they gave us a chance to learn while not having to worry about the dogs.  Acconeus Collie College in Connecticut and the CC of MD also offered excellent chances to learn and talk about breedings, judges (Oh,boy) and many other things.  Alas these have gone the way of the Dodo bird.

When I first got serious about Collies my mother bought me as a Christmas present a subscription to one of the best dog magazines at the time:  Dog News.  This was not the Dog News of today, but was published monthly by Alice Rosenthal from the same building that housed the Foley Dog Show Organization.  My first issue was the December 1953 issue and had a blue merle Collie and blue merle Sheltie from Ronas Hill Kennels in Canada on the cover.  If my memory is correct the Collie was Ch. Blue Minstrel of Ronas Hill and the Sheltie Ch. Blue Flag of Ronas Hill.

Dog News featured different breeds each month and Collies (which were very popular) always got the Christmas issue.  They had excellent columnists such as W.R. Van Dyck (Honeybrook) and Oren Kem (Lodestone) and had numerous advertisements.  Though the Collies were always first with me, I got to see the best of many other breeds, the breeders, and the handlers.  You also could see who was judging and read about their opinions.  The ads featured stud dogs and litters of puppies for your consideration.  Today’s magazines (of which I get many because of being a judge) seem to be geared toward influencing judges more than anything else and some of the wording is ludicrous.  The idea of describing a judge as the “esteemed” so and so is a bit much.  Most pictures show the judge smiling at the camera as is the handler and some of the handler’s outfits are skimpy to say the least.  It would be nice to see judges and handlers looking at the dog instead of posting as in a screen test.

In addition to some weird outfits on handlers, the judges also have gone over the top.  Male judges are often seen in tuxedos and the ladies have evening gowns slit up the side no doubt to look sexy.  Pardon this old dinosaur, but the focus is supposed to be on the dog not the people.  It may be time to re-evaluate some of our priorities.  Do we want a social event for the enjoyment of people or an experience that promotes better dogs?  Years ago I learned that the best handlers were those who knew how to do the little things that help the dog take center stage while they hid in the background.  Which are you?

Think About It!

Few Good Men or Collies

Few Good Men or Collies

Before I go further I need to thank all those who sent emails or cards during my recent bout with pneumonia.  It was a nasty time, but I’m home now and on the mend.  Unfortunately my wife, Phyllis, falls victim to doing all the outside work for now since I’m forbidden to go out in the cold for a while.  As the boy said when he swallowed the pin cushion, “even this shall pass!”

Tom Cruise has made a number of movies over the years.  One of my personal favorites is “A Few Good Men.”  It got me to thinking as I often do about how it applies to dogs.  Sometimes people get too caught up in the numbers games and that, in my opinion, is a great mistake.  If your goal in dogs is to breed the most champions, win the most shows, have the top studs or brood bitches, that’s nice, but it isn’t always as great as it might seem.  Just because many dog magazines devote half their pages to meaningless statistics does not make them important.  They only cater to those who love the numbers game more than their dogs.

Years ago when I was breeding and showing with considerable success there were never more than a dozen grown dogs in the kennel.  Generally a number were champions and there might be some pups who I hoped would be the next link in the chain.  Breedings were never done to supply a market, but to continue the program with a goal of breeding better Collies.  The pups who didn’t fit my needs were sold and often did quite well for their new owners, but I seldom had more than three or four litters in a year.  Raising puppies right is a job and I had a full time job and three boys to raise plus the grown dogs to care for as well.

Now back then I competed with some breeders who were quite successful and knew of some who preceded me who likewise made quite a record.  The winning and lofty records left me a bit cold at times when I spoke to people who visited some of the kennels.  One place was mentioned with the puppy yard where puppies stood at the fence on several inches of feces.  Another had dogs that were so lacking in socialization and/or good temperament as to have to literally lasso the dogs to catch them.

While I never visited either place I know of some that are very similar.  Too many dogs not only takes the fun out of breeding, but they never get proper care.  We know thru some of the terrible things that come to light such as the nightmare from Alaska that this is true.  There are very few cases such as Bellhaven where the owner’s wealth allows for sufficient kennel help to allow large numbers to be kept.

Raising Collies is not like raising livestock such as cattle or hogs.  You don’t just provide them with food, water, and shelter and expect them to thrive.  The right kind of Collie is born to make its master happy and when you take that away you’re missing the whole point of breeding dogs.

You don’t need to have lots of dogs to do well and have others respect your efforts.  There have been and still are many kennels that are low in numbers, but high in quality. Wayside, Marnus, and Shenstone could compete at the highest level.  Gayle Kaye breeds very few pups, but the Chelsea Collies do just fine I assure you.

Years ago when the CC of A was still putting on seminars to educate breeders we talked about kennels that had laid the foundation for those who came after.  We mentioned Lodestone, Tokalon, Sterling, and Parader among others, but as we dug deeply into Collie history we came upon the “vein of gold” that lay behind all of the notable current dogs.  That vein of gold was the Collies of Charles and Lillian Wernsman and their Arken dogs.  They had an impact on the breed that was phenomenal and showed that we Americans could breed dogs as good as the imported ones.

The Wernsmans had a kennel that seldom had more than twelve dogs of which almost all were sable.  Interesting how many of the successful old breeders stayed away from blues unlike some today who seem to think it’s the only important color.  It was a different time and Collies were much more popular than they are today with the public based on registration numbers.  They were also a breed in those days where owner handlers could be quite competitive.  My how times have changed!

I mean no disrespect to those who handle dogs for others.  Many of them I consider friends and I’ve often told people who didn’t do their dogs justice to get a handler.  My concern is, as it has always been, for the Collie.  If our breed becomes a dog with its appearance geared to a few breeders rather than the public and if so many tricks need to be mastered to show one successfully, then I wonder if we’ve served the Collie well.

Don’t worry about the numbers game and keep what you can properly care for and love.  If that’s too big an order you might try breeding guppies.

Think about it!

Puppies, Puppies, Puppies!

Puppies, Puppies, Puppies!

It’s been a long time since we had a puppy here, but we have one now.  She’s three months old and cute as blazes and we’re enjoying her thanks to Kathy and Jerry Zehetner.  Leash breaking, grooming, trimming nails, and feet are all part of her education and it reminds me of how important these things are.  Puppies are the fruits of any breeder’s dreams and they represent the future if things go well.

If puppies are the fruit of our labor and dreams, then the sires and dams are the foundation we build upon.  The dog and bitch that we use to produce our next generation will determine it’s success or failure.  As has been stated many times the two cornerstones for success in a breeding program are health and temperament.  You may achieve some short term success with dogs that fall short in these areas, but sooner or later your house of cards will tumble down.

People sometimes get on the stud dog kick.  Van Dyck used to call it the “who’s he by” syndrome.  The truth is that your brood bitch is just as important.  The people who spend a lifetime trying to upgrade mediocre bitches by breeding to top studs are legion.   People used to ask me how the puppies I had by my studs were often the best that they produced.  My answer was simply that my bitches were top of the line and I knew what kind of bitch worked best with those studs.

Don’t ever forget that “good mothers beget good mothers!”  The stud dog certainly has major influence on those puppies, but in addition to her genetic contribution the bitch contributes mothering that includes producing strong puppies, lots of good milk, and calm temperament.  Years ago my mother bought a tri bitch of impeccable breeding and a real looker.  We bred her to Ch. Windsong Dealer’s Choice, our first champion, and she had a lovely litter of tris and blues.  I whelped the litter and got to endure this bitch laying on the pups until only two were left.  I sent her home to my mother to keep me from killing her.  Other qualities not withstanding, she was worthless.

You plan your breedings carefully and use individuals that can be expected to produce well.  You feed a good ration and provide the bitch with exercise so she comes to whelping with sufficient muscle tone.  She will be up to date on all shots and free of worms, heartworms, and all external parasites.  You will provide her with a place to whelp that is quiet and removed from activity both human and canine.  You will introduce her to this area at least a week before her due date and two weeks is better.  Now all you need are the puppies!

There are so many things that happen once the puppies are whelped.  Routine things such as worming, shots, and good food and water are a given.  If they’re not you shouldn’t have bred a litter at all.  There are other things that you need to do as well, but what works for me may need some tweaking to work for you.  My puppies started having nails trimmed at one week and it was done weekly the rest of their lives.  They get a gentle, rudimentary brushing several times a week as well.  The brushing and nail trims were done in my lap at first and later on the grooming table when they could stand.  They also had a lead put around their necks on the grooming table and little tidbits of steak.  They always were groomed and handled when due to get a meal to make sure they were hungry and in the evening on hot days.

A puppy who has been fed and groomed on the table learns it’s a nice place.  When you set them down they readily follow some food in front of their nose and are lead broken in short order.  Teaching them to pose takes some patience, but it’s important to show a Collie on it’s four good legs, not have them stacked like a Dobe.  Any dog I judge is asked to come to a natural stop when finishing a down and back.

We used to have match shows, both specialty and al-breed, to use for training our puppies.  They duplicated the experience of going to a show and helped training tremendously.  Matches have gone the way of the Do-Do bird and it’s too bad because they were very beneficial.  I guess we’re so busy going to point shows we don’t have time to support matches.  Everyone’s in such a hurry to take points, they forget how to prepare.

Admittedly some people used to show too much at matches and that’s a case of overkill.  Occasional practice at home and a few shows are all a puppy with good disposition needs.  I never showed puppies too hard since every day a pup is at a show is a day it doesn’t eat and exercise normally.  They need to do both to grow properly.  Don’t let’s be like the owners of Thoroughbreds who race two year olds rather than let the horses mature.  If we’re breeding dogs that have to do their winning as puppies, we may be breeding the wrong kind of Collies.

Think about it!

R.O.M. - Good or Bad???

R.O.M.  -  Good or Bad???

The idea of designating dogs or bitches as being worthy of Register Of Merit listing is not new.  Lots of other breeds do it and the intentions are probably always good, but does it end up that way?  Does the desire for R.O.M status make people breed too many dogs as does the feverish desire to be breeders of the year?  Given the number of dog shows and the ease of making your own majors the criteria for R.O.M. status obviously needs some changes.  We have people showing dogs year around who can create an R.O.M. very quickly by the same standards used when it was much tougher.

It’s long been my feeling that credit given to dogs or breeders such as top stud dogs, brood bitches, R.O.M. or breeders of the year should be done on a percentage basis.  My theory has always fallen on deaf ears, but I still think it’s the right way to do it.  If your dog sires ten puppies from two litters and five finish why should he be considered inferior to a dog who sires one hundred puppies and six finish?  Of course, we know dinosaurs have weird ideas.

The R.O.M., top breeders, and top studs and dams are just a few of the things the C.C. of A. might think about addressing.  The C.C. of A. has done a lot of good things for the Collie, but remember the club is not an entity, but only a group of people.  Its ability to move the Collie forward is only as good as the people we all elect.  Often some who seem to be excellent candidates decline getting involved at the national level for various reasons.

My own choice was not to seek national office though I was asked several times.  It’s just not something I cared to do.  I was District Director in New Jersey and chaired both the Standard Committee and Tellers Committee.  My choice was to work at breeding better dogs rather than hold national office.  We each need to use the talents with which we are endowed by our maker.

Our current president, Pati Merrill, has my wholehearted respect and admiration.  She has so many outstanding qualities and sets a good example for our membership.  Pati is not just an exhibitor/breeder or a politician hoping to wear a little pin.  She genuinely loves the Collie and cares about all Collies not just the ones that can win at shows.  In addition she’s crazy enough to run for president after having done it before.

A friend who knows of my involvement with Collies asked me recently, “what’s happening to Collies?”  For years our breed was in the top ten in registrations.  It seems as though many people remember a Collie from their childhood.  The fall from favor has been going on for years and could be for many reasons.  It’s not size or grooming since Shepherds, Goldens, and Labs are all in the top ten and are big dogs with grooming needs.

It could definitely have to do with the eye issues and the ads in papers over the years saying “Collie pups, eyes checked” which made the public sensitive to a problem they and most vets didn’t understand.  Albert Payson Terhune no longer cranks out books and magazine articles and Lassie no longer performs heroics on TV.  All of these things have an impact and we’re not always good to each other.  We need to think more about the good of the breed and less about improving our image by knocking the competition.

Collies have gradually over time become a tough breed to show.  The makeup, fixed ears, and some other unsavory practices have made it tough for the little guy to compete.  Nowhere is this more evident than at the highest level.  It may be too late to see Collies go back to being the people’s breed.  They may be doomed to the fate of most terriers, poodles, and some others.  If so, I’m glad to be an old dinosaur since I don’t wish to watch it happen.

To all our many friends, Phyllis and I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  My cracked pelvis continues to heal and we have a new puppy coming courtesy of Jerry and Kathy Zehetner.  Yes, there is a Santa Claus! 

Think about it!

Showing a Champion

Showing a Champion

Over the years I’ve tried to understand what some folks are doing when they show their special.  To start with a class that says “for Specials only” tells me that any dog or bitch in that class should stand head and shoulders above the ones not yet Champions.  Unfortunately most specials do not fit that description.  The AKC may find ways to keep you showing with “Grand Champion” lollipops to put in your hand, but most of the ones who finish should call it a day and stay home.

Edith Levine of Glen Knolls did not like showing in the Specials class.  She used to say “nothing is as stale” as last year’s champion.  To her the proof of a breeder was what you could come out with each year in young stock.  Perhaps her Collies matured early and didn’t age well, but that was her outlook on specials.

During my time as a breeder/exhibitor there were only two dogs that I specialed:  Ch. Jadene’s Breezalong (BB CC of A 1967) and Ch. Gingeor’s Indelibly Blue (BB CC of A 1976)  To be sure I did show some of my other champions on occasion if I thought they had a good shot at winning, but no others steadily campaigned.  My outlook on showing in the Specials Only class was that you had to have a good reason. 

Never in those years did I ever want to campaign a bitch.  My outlook on that was probably a lot like some others who felt that once a bitch finished her job was to provide the next generation.  The stress of an ongoing campaign puts a bitch at risk in being successful in the whelping box.  Of course, there are exceptions, but also plenty of bitches who win a lot and are flops as producers.  Personally I’d rather have the producer.  She helps you move your breeding program forward while the winner just feeds your ego.

If you have a good young male who finishes and looks promising as he matures, then further showing as a Special gives prospective customers with bitches to breed a chance to see him.  Once his puppies are old enough to start winning (we hope) the need to show him diminishes.  If the pups aren’t outstanding, then he may need to look for a new home.  Ditto for any bitch who hasn’t shown anything special in her first two litters.  Don’t try to keep dogs that don’t help forge the next link in your chain.

The stress of an extended campaign can have adverse affects on males as well as bitches.  Sperm counts may go down and condition as well.  Each dog is different and must be evaluated as to their ability to handle a number of shows.  Today’s Collies sometimes seem a bit “sharp” in disposition compared to earlier dogs.  It may help keep them showing, but may not be enjoyable to live with at home.  Perhaps it’s what is needed with the large number of shows today, but I’m not sure if it appeals to the public.

I read an article some time back where a handler was asked about what he looked for in a dog to campaign.  The answer was “toughness”, of course, quality was also presumed.  The way we show today and the number of shows available may be changing what we breed.  You can decide for yourself whether it is changing and whether you like the change if it exists.

The British have a saying that says “showing a dog fearlessly!”  The meaning is fairly clear.  Such a dog or bitch would be of quality that allows you to show where the competition is really tough, not to duck the big boys to pick up more wins.  Though I also showed at all-breed shows, my preference as I bred better Collies was to go to the specialties.  Not only were more points available, but the judging was more competent, and you could learn more.  You learn most by going where the  competition is tough and your dogs must be good to be competitive.  Showing against second rate dogs makes you lazy.

Years ago I spoke at Acconeus Collie College and told the audience that the people I showed against were “The wind beneath my wings!”  Starting with Trudy Mangels and Pat Shyrock (Starkweather) and continuing thru Bobbi Roos and John Buddie.  They made me breed better dogs to keep up and win.  Set your sights high and don’t lower the bar, but raise it.  When my sons were growing up and playing sports I always told them to learn from losing as much or more than winning.  The act of winning makes you feel good, but losing makes you try harder.

Think about it!

p.s.  Since your humble scribe has taken a fall and cracked his pelvis, blogs may be skimpy for now.  Moral is that T-Rex should not try to do pushups.  They’re not built for it!!

Crown or Crap? (The Collie Coat)

Crown or Crap?  (The Collie Coat)

Our standard calls the coat the crowning glory of the Rough Collie and, indeed, it can be, but it needs to be correct.  As in so many coated breeds some folks seem to think more is better.  Actually it’s the right type of coat that’s what we should shoot for because it’s not only the correct coat, but it’s easier to groom without a lot of “aids.”  Great big fluffy, soft, voluminous coats take away from the Collie’s desired outline and make exhibitors work much harder.  Such coats also can be virtually impossible for any pet owner to handle.

When I was breeding and exhibiting I learned a lot about coats and how to groom the Collie.  In addition to having a clean dog and one that is properly trimmed the essence of grooming the Rough Collie coat is to add moisture without adding so much that it looks soggy or really wet.  To accomplish this takes skill acquired over time, hard work, and a Collie with correct coat.  That correct coat will not only absorb the moisture applied, but hold it longer without continuous need to reapply.

The coat that we desire is one where we can feel the harshness of the outer coat particularly along the back and have a denseness of the soft undercoat that makes it hard to see the skin.  It should “fit” the dog not billow around it like a halo.  The correctly fitting coat will not only accentuate the Collie’s outline, but shed rain and carry snow without melting it.  It is not just a coat for looks and the dog shows, but one which is useful.

To work moisture into the coat one has to know how the coat grows and which direction it lays.  To get moisture into the coat you need to “open” the coat against its normal direction of growth while applying and working in the moisture.  You can do this with your hands, as I used to, and then with a brush as you continue to mist the coat.  If you’re at a show don’t forget that timing is very important to your grooming efforts.

Almost any Collie when set down on the floor after grooming will shake.  Allow enough time to settle the coat and round off the rough edges that result from shaking.  If you can’t see the ring have someone watch it for you and advise when it’s time to be ready.  You don’t want to run into the ring with a Collie that looks like a hedgehog while you brush, brush, brush, because you weren’t ready. 

If you have a Collie with proper coat and have learned to groom properly then all you need is a great head and expression, sound body, good movement, and a born show dog and you may be in business if the judge knows their job.

Over time you should get a system down that works for you, but it must start with a good dog.  All the grooming, trimming, and training won’t make “a silk purse from a sow’s ear.”  You will develop your own routine and realize that all dogs don’t require the same type of attention.  A lot of grooming is just common sense, but some folks find that a tough commodity to acquire.  I always tried to do all trimming at home before the show.  In that environment the dog isn’t as distracted and the trimming goes more smoothly.  It also allows you to concentrate on grooming and doing a good job with the moisturizing.

To be able to groom properly as I said before it helps to have a good dog with the right kind of coat.  They also need to learn to accept grooming and trimming.  My puppies started having nails trimmed at one week of age and had it done weekly thru their lives.  They were subjected to grooming (gently) in my lap at the same age and frequency.  They went on the grooming table as soon as they could stand and were leash trained at about six to seven weeks.  Leash lessons always followed the grooming table and occurred when it was time for a meal so they were eager to follow a piece of baked steak.

We can make breeding, grooming, and training harder than it needs to be or we can spend some time planning each move.  You don’t breed your bitch to the second cousin of the great producer, but to the producer himself.  You can learn to groom and to train, but if you don’t feel good about your efforts hire someone whose results you admire and use their skill.

Above  all take however long it takes to understand how to breed correct Collies.  If that doesn’t work buy your show dogs from someone with the skill you don’t possess.  Beware, however, of the breeder whose dogs only win for them.  A good Collie can win for anyone with reasonable skill at grooming and handling.  Don’t fall for cheating to get your wins, dog showing is a sport and all sports have rules.  Play by the rules and you enrich our breed.  Break them and you weaken the gene pool to a sad degree.  Puppies are not whelped with tape on their ears, or makeup on their faces, or hair spray on their coats.

My only experience with doctoring a coat came years ago the first time I showed at the garden.  I had heard that beer would make the coat hold up longer in the ring so I decided to give it a try.  I was showing Windsong Dealer’s Choice, the blue who would be my first champion in the open blue class.  Mike Kennedy of Bellhaven was standing next to me with a dog that was impeccably groomed, the judge was Emily Tharp, President of the CCA who looked like everyone’s idea of a white haired grandmother.  When Mrs. Tharp went over my dog the coat almost snapped, crackled, and popped (no one told me the beer should be stale).   Since his coat was a bit sticky and she had trouble running her hands thru it, Mrs. Tharp looked up at me and said sweetly “my, my he does have a harsh coat.”  I probably turned red and Mike Kennedy was convulsed with glee.  So ended my using anything but water.

Oh yes, I did breed dogs with correct coats.

Think about it!

Of Being Judged and Judging

Of Being Judged and Judging

A few days ago I saw a picture of Kitleigh Knickerbocker with John Buddie handling to Winners Dog at the Central Penn. Specialty in Harrisburg with yours truly judging.  Actually my favorite picture of John winning under me is on page 347 of Gayle Kaye’s book “The Collie In America.”  John looks about 13 and I look like I’m going to the prom!  Over the years John’s shown a lot of good dogs under me.  One of my favorites was Ch. Tartanside Apparently who I put winners dog at a New York Specialty.  He was later BB at the CC of A and also at the Steve Field tribute show with Steve judging. 

I’ve now gotten ahead of myself since I was being judged before doing the judging.  During my years as an exhibitor my dogs were shown to lots of judges.  Over time one learns who likes the type you breed and sometimes who likes you.  Some judges have strange ideas and you learn to adjust or drop them from your list.  There was an elderly gent from Washington, DC named Wm. Ackland, he insisted that you set your dog’s legs no matter how sound he might be.  After a few losses I set the legs and did fine. 

Percy Roberts was respected as a top handler and later as a sought after all breed judge.  I first showed under Percy in a group I believe with Breezalong.  Now Breezy was as sound as a rock, but I kneeled to check his legs anyhow.  Mr. Roberts told me to “stand up, he’s a working dog and you can’t do him justice on your knees.”

Dorothy Long, the mistress of Noranda was full of wisdom and widely respected as both a breeder and judge.  Early in my career as an exhibitor I showed under her in a group with a dog I thought was well groomed.  When she examined him she lifted his feet so I could see it wasn’t trimmed underneath and between the pads.  Years later when judging I used to let folks know when they’d mess up something like building up the back skull or loading the muzzle by stopping when I handled the offending part, looking at them, and smiling.  Caught you!  Faking of color, on the other hand, got you automatically excused.

There were so many judges over the years and my opinion of them was just that, my opinion. Of the specialty judges Steve Field was the king .  Alex Gibbs was a great judge as honest as they come.  I thought Gus Sigritz was good and still remember with a smile when Lyman Wine said he wished he could “groom like George Horn, show like John Buddie, and judge like Gus Sigritz”.

All breed judges were a mixed bag, but Alva Rosenberg was at the top of the list.  There was an award offered for the country’s outstanding judge and after Alva won it the first three years offered, they put in a limiting clause that it couldn’t be won by the same  person more than three times.  He was that good and knew Collies and all other breeds and had a memory for dogs and how he placed them that defied belief.

When I exhibited I never passed dogs off to someone else to try to fool the judge.  If I went winners dog and had a bitch in winners I was the one who showed her.  The only time I asked for help was if I had two in at once such as with two class winners.  Generally I picked the wrong one to take in for winners.   At the big Trenton Specialty when I took Soellner’s open sable dog in for winners, Helene Carpenter smiled sweetly at me and said “you brought the wrong dog in“ when she put up my puppy!

In my years of exhibiting only one judge put me both winners dog and winners bitch and both times it was major shows.  The judge was Steve Field and I guess you could say he had the courage of his convictions. 

Frank Foster Davis was an all-rounder from California Supposedly linked to the movie business.  He gave me my first group with my first champion from the classes.  He later gave Breezy a group at the Hartford show.

Phil Marsh was an ex handler who became a popular judge.  Over the years we did well under him including the group at the big Trenton show.  Phil loved Breezalong and when he judged The Garden I couldn’t wait to get the entry sent off.  The Collie specials were judged about 10 pm in that hot building and my dog just quit.  Phil leaned  over to examine him and said “what’s wrong with him tonight?”  I could only shrug my shoulders and look dumb.

The funniest group I won was at Upper Marlboro, MD.  I had Breezalong there and he took the breed.  Lina Basquette, the Dane lady, had a well known special there who lost to a class bitch.  Lina was furious.  I had one of her Danes as a housedog so I knew Lina.  She came up and asked me if I had my good Collie there.  When I said yes, she told me to have him on his toes in the group and he’d do well.  I saw her talking to the group judge and sure enough Breezy won the group.  The Dane obviously didn’t place!  Never won anything else under that judge

There were judges I couldn’t win under if I walked on water in the ring.  One judge put my special down without ever touching him!  Fortunately being very mild mannered I took it in stride! (Ha-Ha)

Gus Sigritz once told me if you get the reputation for being too good a loser, judges find it easier to put your dog down.  Ed Myers once told me how to assess a judges honesty.  An honest judge can sleep with an exhibitor the night prior to a show and put their dog down the next day.  I never asked Ed anything further.

I met some wonderful judges over the years and the wisdom they passed on has served me well. (I hope)  We can gain a lot of knowledge by listening to the right people.  Be sure you can tell the wheat from the chaff!

When I set out to be a judge I had over 15 years in Collies and had won the CC of A.  As mentioned in an earlier blog I started with matches and worked my way up to sweeps on the way.  There were many lessons to be picked up as an aspiring judge just as there had been as a breeder-exhibitor.  One of the things I read attributed to Major Godsol, a well known west coast all-breed judge was this: “Never let your eyes wander north of the dog you’re judging.”  Translation – judge the dog and don’t concern yourself with who the handler might be.

Over the years it’s been my pleasure to judge many fine dogs.  My first major sweeps assignment was at the CC of Long Island. Trudy Mangels won with a male called Brandywyne  The Dude.  His litter sister, I believe owned by Janet Leek was BOS in sweeps.  Trudy and I competed up and down the east coast and she was a tough adversary, “forget the other end of the leash!”

Steve Field was my mentor, teacher, and treasured friend.  The first time I judged the Collie Club of Nebraska Steve got last in every class and his special went down to a class dog.  Steve may not have agreed, but never a word of reproof crossed his lips.  Class does tell.

I did put Steve up later with a dog that may have been his last champion, Ch. Parader’s Regal Lancer.

Joyce Hauser of Twin Creeks was a skilled breeder and exhibitor.  She won lots of points under me including the CC of A.  At least twice she won both majors under me, but once the WD was Twin Creeks Damn Yankee owned by Marion Liebsch.  He went from the puppy class to BB and his sister was BOS.  Later Joyce took WD (I think in Minnesota) with Twin Creeks Tuff Guy.  Same day she also had WB for another major.  Joyce did most of her showing in the midwest while I was back east but we bumped heads occasionally.  A fierce competitor she paid me the ultimate compliment when she said “it’s more fun to show under you than against you!”

Marion Liebsch showed a multitude of fine dogs under me starting with the afore mentioned Twin Creeks Damn Yankee and winding up with the blue Ghostbuster.  This was a blue with two blue eyes and I was sure he couldn’t win under me.  First time under me he was Winners Dog and from then on he was Best of Breed culminating with his win from the veterans class at the Dominion Collie Specialty in Canada over a ton of champions.  Over the years she showed me a wonderful sable bitch who I put BB and who went on to win CC of A  BB as well.  A lovely tri male who I made WD at Presque Isle CC and later went WD at CC of A under Les Canavan.

As mentioned earlier John has shown me lots of fine dogs as had the Kellers, the Soellners, Judy Evans, Debbie Holland, Marcy Fine, Don and Les Jeszewski and many others.  I’d rather not dwell too much of people who are still active and be accused of trying to influence anyone.

One more Kudo must go out however and that is Gayle Kaye’s Chelsea Collies.  My last assignment in CA she bred WD, WB, and BB with three different dogs from one litter.  In my memory no one ever did that under me before.

So from my first show when I gave the indomitable Black Hawk of Kasan BB over 175 Rough Collis for I believe his first BB to the Chicago CC where this part of my career ends.  It’s been a great ride!

All of which proves with proper training even a dinosaur can judge Collies. 

Think About It!